12648 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 37 / Monday, February 25, 2013 / Proposed Rules (c) Reserved DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION received and other information. The (d) Compliance street address for the Docket Operations Federal Aviation Administration Office (telephone 800–647–5527) is in You are responsible for performing each the ADDRESSES section. Comments will action required by this AD within the 14 CFR Part 39 be available in the AD docket shortly specified compliance time unless it has after receipt. already been accomplished prior to that time. [Docket No. FAA–2013–0159; Directorate Identifier 2012–SW–010–AD] For service information identified in (e) Required Actions this proposed AD, contact Robinson RIN 2120–AA64 Within 30 days: Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport (1) Create a component history card or Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; telephone equivalent record for each crosstube. Helicopter Company (310) 539–0508; fax (310) 539–5198; or Determine the number of landings on each at http://www.robinsonheli.com/ crosstube and enter it on the component AGENCY: Federal Aviation servelib.htm. You may review a copy of history card or equivalent record. If the Administration (FAA), DOT. service information at the FAA, Office number of landings is unknown, calculate 10 ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking of the Regional Counsel, Southwest landings per flight hour. (NPRM). Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room (2) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. section of the maintenance manual to reflect SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred that crosstube, P/N D412–664–203, has a existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, Los retirement life of 10,000 landings. Robinson Helicopter Company Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, (3) Remove from service any crosstube (Robinson) Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, with a number of landings equal to or greater Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, and R44 II 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA than 10,000. helicopters with certain main rotor 90712; telephone (562) 627–5232; email blades (blade) installed. The existing AD [email protected]. (f) Alternative Methods of Compliance currently requires inspecting each blade SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (AMOCs) at the skin-to-spar line for debonding, (1) The Manager, New York Aircraft corrosion, a separation, a gap, or a dent Comments Invited Certification Office, FAA, may approve and replacing any damaged blade with We invite you to participate in this AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: an airworthy blade. Since we issued that ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing rulemaking by submitting written AD, a terminating action for the comments, data, or views. We also Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, inspection requirements of that AD has 1600 Stewart Ave., suite 410, Westbury, New invite comments relating to the been developed. The proposed actions economic, environmental, energy, or York 11590; telephone (516) 228–7300; fax are intended to detect debonding of the (516) 794–5531. federalism impacts that might result blade skin, which could result in blade from adopting the proposals in this (2) For operations conducted under a 14 failure and subsequent loss of control of CFR part 119 operating certificate or under document. The most helpful comments the helicopter, and to correct the unsafe reference a specific portion of the 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that condition by replacing the main rotor you notify your principal inspector, or proposal, explain the reason for any blades with new blades that do not recommended change, and include lacking a principal inspector, the manager of require the AD inspection. the local flight standards district office or supporting data. To ensure the docket certificate holding district office before DATES: We must receive comments on does not contain duplicate comments, operating any aircraft complying with this this proposed AD by April 26, 2013. commenters should send only one copy AD through an AMOC. ADDRESSES: You may send comments by of written comments, or if comments are any of the following methods: filed electronically, commenters should (g) Additional Information • Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to submit only one time. (1) The subject of this AD is addressed in http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the We will file in the docket all Transport Canada AD No. CF–2012–14R1, online instructions for sending your comments that we receive, as well as a dated May 9, 2012. comments electronically. report summarizing each substantive • (h) Subject Fax: 202–493–2251. public contact with FAA personnel • Mail: Send comments to the U.S. concerning this proposed rulemaking. Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Department of Transportation, Docket Before acting on this proposal, we will Code: 3213: Main Landing Gear Strut/Axle/ Operations, M–30, West Building consider all comments we receive on or Truck. Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 before the closing date for comments. Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, We will consider comments filed after 18, 2013. DC 20590–0001. the comment period has closed if it is Kim Smith, • Hand Delivery: Deliver to the possible to do so without incurring Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft ‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5 expense or delay. We may change this Certification Service. p.m., Monday through Friday, except proposal in light of the comments we [FR Doc. 2013–04223 Filed 2–22–13; 8:45 am] Federal holidays. receive. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Examining the AD Docket Discussion You may examine the AD docket on On June 2, 2011, we issued AD 2011– the Internet at http:// 12–10, amendment 39–16717 (76 FR www.regulations.gov or in person at the 35330, June 17, 2011) (AD 2011–12–10) Docket Operations Office between 9 for Robinson Model R22, R22A, R22 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters, with Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD a blade, part number (P/N) A016–4; and docket contains this proposed AD, the Model R44 and R44 II helicopters, with economic evaluation, any comments a blade, P/N C016–2 or C016–5. We VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:27 Feb 22, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\25FEP1.SGM 25FEP1 erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 37 / Monday, February 25, 2013 / Proposed Rules 12649 corrected a typographical error in AD Three commenters stated that making Astro will be beyond economical repair 2011–12–10 on March 5, 2012 (77 FR a logbook entry each day showing the as many R44 Astros have been refitted 12991). AD 2011–12–10 requires a pilot AD check for paint is unnecessary and with hydraulics, and conversions occur check of the blade skin-to-spar joint area burdensome. The commenters also often. AD 2011–12–10 estimated costs for any bare metal before the first flight stated it is the same importance as other for replacing one blade if debonding of each day. That AD also requires, pre-flight checks that are not was present, and did not address any within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), documented. One commenter suggested costs to modify the helicopter to accept and thereafter at 100-hour TIS intervals replacing the daily check and logbook the new part-numbered blades or at each annual inspection, or if any entry with a pre-flight check and no manufactured by Robinson. The FAA bare metal is found during the pilot logbook entry. One commenter stated does not concur with the commenter’s check, inspecting each blade for that ‘‘we need to trust the pilots and request that the FAA require the corrosion, separation, a gap, or a dent by maintenance people to do their jobs and manufacturer to cover the cost of following certain procedures in not add to this burden of it looks good replacing the blades. The FAA Robinson R22 Service Bulletin SB–103, on paper world.’’ We do not agree. FAA recognizes that the general obligation of dated April 30, 2010, for Model R22 policy requires a logbook entry for the operator to maintain aircraft in an series helicopters or Robinson R44 checks performed pursuant to the airworthy condition is vital, but Service Bulletin SB–72, dated April 30, directions of an AD. sometimes expensive. The FAA 2010, for Model R44 series helicopters. Four commenters stated it is not considers that, in the interest of That AD also requires refinishing any necessary to shorten the retirement life maintaining safe aircraft, prudent bare metal before further flight and of main rotor blades by AD. They stated operators would accomplish the replacing any damaged blade with an the cost is high compared to the safety required actions even if they were not airworthy blade. benefit, it could put small operators out required to do so by the AD. However, AD 2011–12–10 superseded AD 2007– of business, and the problem is caused the manufacturer, not the FAA, 26–12, Amendment 39–15314 (73 FR by poor inspection practices. One determines if the manufacturer will 397, January 3, 2008) (AD 2007–26–12) commenter added that routine cover the cost of implementing a which requires a one-time visual inspections are performed before flight particular action. Therefore, no change inspection for skin separation along the and if any defects were discovered that in this regard is necessary. leading edge of the blade skin aft of the operator would be aware of it and not One commenter requested the skin-to-spar bond line on the lower attempt flight until repairs were made. immediate adoption of an airworthiness surface of each blade and in the tip cap If operated in an environment where directive requiring replacement of the area.